The yellow Isabel Toledo dress with matching coat was a bold, regal statement.  Toledo, a 47-year-old Cuban-born designer, was raised in New Jersey and schooled at Parson’s School of Design.   Her designs are sold at Barney’s New York and retail for $2000 and up.  I loved the dress’ sheath cut and shimmer and its pairing with olive green gloves and Jimmy Choo kitten heels, but thought the rhinestone accent across the collar of the dress was a tad too formal for the inauguration ceremony.  Nevertheless, yellow is the it color for spring and the First Lady was a ray of sunshine …read more

 
It’s still surreal to me that Barack Obama is America’s first African-American president, and by his side stands the first African-American First Lady.  I remember the first time I saw Michelle Obama.  I was pleasantly surprised that she was stylish, smart, and brown-skinned.  
Growing up,  I sometimes felt less attractive because of my dark skin tone.  And when guys gave me compliments, they were often the backhanded variety like, “You’re pretty for a dark-skinned girl.”  So Michelle’s stature as First Lady is a particular source of pride for me and many African-American women.
On a grander scale, President Obama’s inauguration is a …read more

  
As an African-American woman, it’s hard for me to put into words how proud I am that Barack Obama has won the presidential election.  Yes we can and did!  I’m equally amazed that America will now have a black First Lady and first daughters.  Michelle Obama and her girls, Malia and Sasha, are beautiful and I can’t wait to see how their flair for fashion evolves over the next four years. Michelle’s fashion sense is pretty bold — from the darling, Donna Ricco black and white flower sheath she wore on “The View” to the hip-hugging purple dress she wore …read more